SOROS SUES BELARUSIAN GOVERNMENT OVER SEIZED PRINTING PRESS

The Soros Foundation has sued Belarus's government over its seizure of the Soros-owned printing equipment in the Minsk-basedindependent publishing house Magic, which prints most of Belarus's independent and opposition periodicals. Last month, the tax authorities froze Magic's bank accounts and confiscated its equipment, saying the company owes taxes. Magic denies the charge. "This is a serious warning to any potential investor to stay away. Lukashenka's regime has not only strangled independent voices, but in stifling a legitimate commercial enterprise he now shows that Belarus has no respect for private property," the Soros Foundation said in a statement.